Kyoto Colors - Streets

Machiya Townhouse

This is a typical Kyoto "machiya" style townhouse, in the Nakagyo midtown area. The front of the machiya features wooden lattices, or koshi, and the ceiling of the second floor is considerably low. This type of low, attic-type second floor is called "tsushi nikai." It is said that the second floor was created low so as not to "look down" on the feudal lords who often paraded thorough the town.